Ciara Foskin, 48, was a mother, sea swimmer, and full of life when she was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer in February 2024. The diagnosis abruptly changed her world, replacing everyday joys with hospital appointments and grueling treatment. To navigate the profound challenges, Ciara turned to creative writing, finding poetry to be a vital outlet for expressing the complex emotions of her experience.

Meet the Follicles captures with startling honesty the grief, loss, and unexpected moments of peace that accompany a cancer diagnosis. The poems give voice to the silent battles fought in quiet moments, the fear of recurrence, the frustration of fatigue, and the difficult process of learning to trust one’s body again.

This collection is more than a reflection on illness; it is a testament to the power of creativity to heal and the strength of the human spirit.

Through her words, Ciara hopes to support others facing illness and grief, telling a story of survival, transformation, and the fierce act of reclaiming one’s life. In support of those affected by cancer, one euro from every book sold will be donated to both the Marie Keating Foundation and the Solas Cancer Support Centre.

About the Author

Ciara Foskin is a writer and breast cancer survivor from Co. Kilkenny. A mother to her 11-year-old daughter, Saibh, she has always had a zest for life and a deep love for sea swimming with friends. Through her poetry, she explores the raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful journey of navigating a cancer diagnosis and finding strength through creative expression. Meet the Follicles is her first book published by Orla Kelly Publishing and illustrated and designed by Dave Comiskey. Available to purchase from The Book Centre, Waterford.

You can pick up your own copy at The Book Centre Waterford or on Amazon.ie see below

The Book Centre

https://shop.thebookcentre.ie/Books/MEET-THE-FOLLICLES_9781917728263

Amazon

Meet the Follicles: An emotional journey of resilience, love, and life. Poetry from a breast cancer survivor. : Foskin, Ciara: Amazon.ie: Books